A second-degree burn needs immediate cooling with running water, followed by a clean dressing and careful wound care over the next two to three weeks as the skin heals. Most small second-degree burns can be treated at home, but burns on the face, hands, feet, or genitals, or any burn covering a large area, need professional medical care right away.
Cool the Burn Immediately
The single most important thing you can do is hold the burned skin under cool, running water for at least 20 minutes. This stops heat from penetrating deeper into the tissue and limits how much damage occurs. Cool running water continues to help for up to three hours after the injury, so if you paused early, you can resume.
Use cool water, not cold. Do not apply ice or ice water. Ice is harsh enough to further damage skin that’s already injured. For the same reason, skip butter, cooking oil, or any greasy home remedy. Grease traps heat against the skin and slows its release, which makes the burn worse rather than better.
While cooling the burn, gently remove any clothing or jewelry near the area unless it’s stuck to the skin. If fabric is adhered to the wound, leave it and let a medical professional handle it.
How to Clean and Dress the Wound
After cooling, gently wash the burn with cool water. Pat it dry with a clean cloth rather than rubbing. If blisters have formed, leave them intact. They act as a natural sterile barrier, and popping them opens the door to infection.
Apply a thin layer of an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment (the kind containing bacitracin and polymyxin B, sold as Polysporin) to the burn. This is easy to apply and remove during dressing changes, which matters because you’ll be repeating this process daily. Then cover the burn with a non-stick gauze pad and secure it loosely with medical tape or a rolled bandage. The dressing should protect the wound without pressing tightly against it.
Change the dressing once a day, or sooner if it gets wet or dirty. Each time, gently wash the wound, reapply ointment, and use a fresh bandage. If the burn is producing a lot of fluid (which is normal for second-degree burns), foam or alginate dressings absorb excess moisture better than plain gauze. These are available at most pharmacies.
Managing Pain
Second-degree burns hurt significantly because the nerve endings in the second layer of skin are exposed and inflamed. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or naproxen help with both pain and swelling. Acetaminophen is another option if you can’t take anti-inflammatory medications. Take these as directed on the packaging, and use them consistently in the first few days rather than waiting until the pain becomes severe.
Keeping the burn elevated above heart level when possible, especially in the first 48 hours, also reduces throbbing and swelling.
Watch for Signs of Infection
Infection is the main complication of second-degree burns, and catching it early makes a big difference. Check the burn each time you change the dressing and look for these warning signs:
- Increasing redness that spreads beyond the edges of the burn, or red streaks radiating outward
- Swelling that worsens after the first couple of days instead of improving
- Cloudy, greenish, or foul-smelling drainage from the wound
- Fever above 100.4°F (38°C)
- Increasing pain rather than gradual improvement
If you notice any of these, the burn likely needs professional evaluation and possibly prescription-strength topical or oral antibiotics.
When the Burn Needs Medical Care
Not every second-degree burn can be safely managed at home. Seek medical attention if the burn is on your eyes, mouth, hands, feet, or genitals, even if it looks small. These areas have delicate tissue, limited skin mobility, or a high infection risk that warrants professional care.
Also get help if the burn covers a large area (roughly bigger than three inches across or larger than the palm of your hand), if it wraps around a limb, or if the person burned is very young, elderly, or has a weakened immune system. Deep second-degree burns that appear white or waxy rather than pink and blistered may actually extend into deeper tissue and often need specialized wound care or even skin grafting.
What Healing Looks Like
A typical second-degree burn takes two to three weeks to heal, though deeper ones can take longer. In the first few days, the area will be red, swollen, and blistered. Over the following week, blisters may break on their own and the top layer of damaged skin will gradually peel away, revealing new pink skin underneath. This new skin is fragile and more sensitive than the surrounding area for several weeks.
During healing, avoid picking at peeling skin or popping remaining blisters. Both actions slow recovery and increase scarring risk. The wound may itch as it heals, which is a normal part of tissue repair. A fragrance-free moisturizer applied after the wound has fully closed can help with dryness and itching.
Reducing Scarring After the Burn Heals
Once the wound has closed completely, you can take steps to minimize the scar’s appearance. Silicone gel sheets or silicone scar gel are the best-studied options. They work by creating a barrier that keeps the scar hydrated and regulates its temperature, which prevents the overproduction of collagen that causes raised, thickened scars. For the best results, use silicone products for at least 12 hours a day over 8 to 12 weeks.
Sun protection is equally important. New scar tissue is highly susceptible to UV damage, which causes permanent darkening or discoloration. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher to the healed area whenever it will be exposed to sunlight, and reapply every two hours outdoors. If you’re using silicone gel, let it dry fully before layering sunscreen on top. If you’re using a silicone sheet, apply sunscreen to the skin around it or cover the area with UV-protective clothing instead. Daily sun protection should continue for at least a year after the burn, since scar tissue remains vulnerable to discoloration long after it looks healed.